2017 Community Needs Assessment

Transcription

1 2017 Cmmunity Needs Assessment Cmmunity-Based Participatry Research El Centr de la Raza El Centr de la Raza th Avenue Suth Seattle, WA (206)

2 1 CONTENTS Executive Summary... 2 Abut El Centr de la Raza... 2 Abut the study... 3 Respndent Characteristics... 4 Tp Cmmunity Cncerns... 5 Emplyment... 6 Discriminatin and Safety... 7 Husing... 8 Educatin Healthcare Financial Stability Transprtatin Nutritin/Fd Access Service Utilizatin Key Findings Endntes Pictured abve: Graduates f El Centr de la Raza s award-winning Jsé Martí Child Develpment Center. Frnt Cver: Child playing at Sants Rdriguez Memrial Park (tp left), Wrk Readiness Arts Prgram yuth participants (right), and a Senir Wellness and Cngregate Meal Prgram participant and her caretaker (bttm left).

3 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpse f the Cmmunity Needs Assessment is t summarize the current needs f Latins in Seattle and Suth King Cunty. El Centr de la Raza cnducted tw research studies as part f ur 2017 Cmmunity Needs Assessment. We gathered quantitative and qualitative data n current cmmunity needs in the areas f husing, emplyment, financial security, fd security, transprtatin, healthcare, educatin, and security and discriminatin. The research team cllected ver 200 surveys at six different scial service prvider lcatins and held five fcus grups with 37 participants f El Centr de la Raza s prgrams. We analyzed the survey results using statistical analysis and the fcus grup results using inductive qualitative cntent analysis. Findings indicate that the mst pressing needs are gd jbs, affrdable husing, and safety frm interpersnal and institutinal discriminatin n the basis f race, language, and immigratin status. Participants reprted that these areas, alng with immigratin-related cncerns, were the mst imprtant issues currently faced by Latins in Seattle and Suth King Cunty. Financial issues were the mst cmmn surces f stress fr participants. Many participants identified a lack f English language skills as a barrier t emplyment, and specifically emphasized the need fr ESL instructin. There is als a majr need fr affrdable early childhd educatin and after schl prgrams, bth fr children s psitive develpment and as an emplyment supprt fr parents. In the area f health, mst respndents culd nt affrd health insurance and rely n sliding fee scale cmmunity clinics fr care. Many respndents struggled with financial security, especially husehlds with children. Mst respndents used public transprtatin, but it is nt a viable alternative fr all families especially thse with multiple children and/r jb sites. Many respndents struggled t meet their husehld fd needs cnsistently thrughut the year. We fund that the mst cmmnly utilized services were public transprtatin, English as a Secnd Language (ESL) classes, cultural events, health check-ups, tax prep, emergency fd/fd bank, legal services, HIV/STI testing, and emergency medical services. Respndents expressed a need fr mre ESL classes, regular health checkups, legal services, tax preparatin assistance, public transprtatin, cultural events, Knw Yur Rights training, and financial cunseling. ABOUT EL CENTRO DE LA RAZA El Centr de la Raza was funded in 1972 after a peaceful and multiracial three-mnth ccupatin f the abandned Beacn Hill Schl building. Tday, we are an indispensable cmmunity rganizatin, scial service prvider, and advcate fr lw-incme cmmunities and cmmunities f clr. El Centr de la Raza prvides 49 culturally and linguistically cmpetent prgrams in the areas f children and yuth, human and emergency services, educatin and asset-building, and husing and ecnmic develpment. Of the 16,452 individuals and 10,128 husehlds served in 2016, 57% f participants were Latin, 90% were peple f clr, and 91% were lw-incme. 1 The rganizatin wrks clsely with Latin immigrant families, bth newly arrived and thse wh have lived here fr years. With 45 years f experience, El Centr de la Raza is a key resurce fr many Latin immigrant families, particularly thse with limited English skills. 1 Lw-incme is defined as belw 200% f the Federal Pverty Line ($24,120 fr ne persn and $40,840 fr three in 2017)

4 3 ABOUT THE STUDY Purpse f Cmmunity Needs Assessment El Centr de la Raza cnducts a frmal Cmmunity Needs Assessment every three years t summarize the current needs f the Latin cmmunity in ur regin. This assessment directly infrms El Centr de la Raza s rganizatinal strategic planning prcess t design, imprve and sustain effective prgrams and services that best serve the cmmunity s needs. This infrmatin is als used t advcate fr the cmmunity at the lcal and state level. Fr this year s Cmmunity Needs Assessment, we cnducted tw studies using a cmmunity-based participatry research (CBPR) apprach. CBPR engages cmmunity members as leaders in planning and implementing the study as well as analyzing and creating a plan f actin frm the results. By using CBPR, research teams ensure that research questins are relevant t cmmunities being studied, that data cllectin and analysis are culturally cmpetent, and that cmmunity members have access t the findings. This apprach mdels accuntable practices t cmmunities mst impacted by the issues studied. Cmmunity Based Participatry Research (CBPR) Prcess El Centr de la Raza s research team assembled a Steering Cmmittee cnsisting f representatives frm Casa Latina, Entre Hermans, Mvimient Afrlatin Seattle, Neighbrhd Huse, Para Ls Niñs, Seattle Office f Civil Rights, United Way f King Cunty, University f Washingtn Latin Center fr Health, and University f Washingtn West Cast Pverty Center. We partnered with Dr. Linda K f the Health Cmmunicatin Research Center at Fred Hutchinsn Cancer Research Center fr guidance n CBPR best practices. Over a twelve-mnth perid, the Steering Cmmittee identified the dmains t be studied, reviewed current literature n trends in the Latin cmmunity lcally and natinally, designed the survey and fcus grup discussin guide, crdinated data cllectin events, analyzed survey and fcus grup results, and prvided feedback n hw best t reprt this infrmatin t the cmmunity. In Phase I f the study, the research team surveyed ver 200 Latin adults living in Seattle and Suth King Cunty n hw husing, emplyment, financial security, fd security, transprtatin, healthcare, educatin, and security and discriminatin affect their daily lives. We als asked abut which issues in the Latin cmmunity were highest pririties fr respndents, and abut their service utilizatin. The research team cllected survey respnses frm legal clinics and tax preparatin events at El Centr de la Raza, the day wrker center at Casa Latina, classes at Seattle Wrld Schl, and cmmunity events at Mvimient Afrlatin Seattle, Entre Hermans, and Para Ls Niñs. Participants received a gift bag with a few small items dnated by Fred Hutchinsn Cancer Research Center. In Phase 2 f the study, the research team led five fcus grups with a ttal f 37 participants t explre the trends identified in the survey mre in depth. Fcus grup participants came frm El Centr de la Raza's Cmadres wmen's grup, residents f Plaza Rbert Maestas and El Pati Lw-Incme Apartments, and parents f children enrlled in the Jsé Martí Child Develpment Center. Participants received a $25 gift card. The data cllectin team cnsisted f seven El Centr de la Raza staff members, all f whm are bilingual in English and Spanish. All data cllectrs cmpleted an nline Human Subjects Research training and received in-persn training n cnducting surveys and leading fcus grups frm Dr. Linda K.

5 4 RESPONDENT CHARACTERISTICS Wmen, 49% Gender (n=195) Men, 46% Guatemala, 5% Hnduras, 6% Cuntry f Birth (n=176) Transgender, 1% El Salvadr, 7% Other Latin American Cuntries, 10% 18% 29% Age (n=140) 24% 19% 5% 4% United States, 15% Area f Residence (n=166) Mexic, 57% Languages Spken (n=193) Bilingual, Spanish dminant 45% Spanish nly 37% Bilingual, English dminant 18% English nly 1% Fcus Grup Participant Characteristics We als cllected demgraphic infrmatin frm the 37 fcus grup participants. Of these, 78% were wmen and 22% were men. Participants ranged frm 28 t 59 years ld, and half were under age 40. Mst (94%) were brn utside the US, with 1 in 4 freign-brn participants cming frm Mexic and the rest frm El Salvadr, Guatemala, Clmbia, Venezuela, and Canada. Nearly half spke nly Spanish, 22% were bilingual Spanishdminant, 8% were bilingual English-dminant, and 8% spke nly English. Anther 14% spke English and Spanish equally. Mst participants lived in the Beacn Hill area, and thers came frm Bellevue, Tukwila, Federal Way, Tacma, and Olympia.

6 5 TOP COMMUNITY CONCERNS The Cmmunity Needs survey asked respndents t identify the tp 3 issues facing the Latin cmmunity in their wn wrds, in rder f imprtance. We rganized these respnses int the categries belw. This chart shws hw many respnses fell int each categry, and the different clrs in each categry shw whether the respndent listed it as the #1, #2, r #3 mst imprtant cncern. ISSUE #1 Emplyment ISSUE #2 Discriminatin ISSUE #3 Husing Immigratin Other Language and Cmmunicatin Educatin Medical Infrmatin, Services, Resurces, & Activities Cst f living, Ecnmy, & Finances Safety and Security Cmmunity issues Transprtatin Fd Trump Uncertainty and Instability Tp 3 Issues in the Latin Cmmunity Respndents identified emplyment, discriminatin, husing, and immigratin as the verall mst significant issues facing the Latin cmmunity in Analyzing by the rder in which issues were listed, discriminatin was the mst frequently cited issue in the #1 spt, fllwed by husing, immigratin, educatin, emplyment, and language/cmmunicatin. These were cmmn themes in the fcus grups as well. Tp 5 Causes f Stress 1. Mney 2. The ecnmy 3. Husing csts 4. Wrk 5. Jb Stability We als asked survey respndents abut the causes f stress in their lives. Results indicate that the mst cmmn surces f stress were primarily related t finances. Mney, the ecnmy, husing csts, wrk, and jb stability were the tp five mst significant surces f stress, fllwed by family respnsibilities. Almst half f respndents als listed health cncerns and persnal safety as very r smewhat significant surces f stress. When asked hw they manage stress, fcus grup participants named a variety f strategies including talking t and spending time with family members, scial media, exercise (e.g. running, yga), ging fr a walk in the park, sleeping, medicatin, and listening t music. One participant jined a flklric dance grup t deal with stress. Anther shared that she relaxes by playing with her children and reading t them. In this reprt, we will present the results f ur cmmunity survey and fcus grups in the rder f the categries shwn in this chart.

7 6 EMPLOYMENT Emplyment was a majr theme in ur survey respnses and fcus grup discussins. Many survey respndents identified emplyment-related cncerns as ne f the tp three issues affecting the Latin cmmunity. These cncerns include lack f jb pprtunities, inability t maintain stable emplyment, lack f ecnmic pprtunity, language ability requirements, lw wages, LGBTQ emplyee rights, jb restrictins due t immigratin status, and wrking withut scial security. 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% King Cunty Unemplyment Rates Ttal Ppulatin Latin White % 6.3% 5% Overall unemplyment in King Cunty has declined in recent years, but racial disparities persist. The Latin unemplyment rate remains higher than the ppulatin average, and the White ppulatin rate remains belw the ppulatin average. 1 The mst cmmn ccupatins amng Latins in King Cunty are fd service (14%), cleaning and maintenance (11%), cnstructin (11%, nearly all are men), and ffice/administrative supprt (10%, mst are wmen). 2 Our survey reflected similar results. The mst cmmn ccupatin amng survey respndents was fd service, fllwed by cnstructin, then husekeeping. Freign-brn respndents were mre likely t wrk in these three ccupatins cmpared t US-brn respndents. Wrkers in these ccupatins (particularly fd service and cnstructin) ften experience higher rates f invluntary part-time wrk, 3 wage theft, 4 and health hazards. 5 Arund Mst Cmmn Occupatins (n=191) half f ur survey respndents were full time wrkers, and 20% were part-time wrkers. The rest Restaurant/Fd service 25% were hmemakers, students, r unemplyed. Freign-brn survey respndents were mre likely t wrk part-time than US-brn respndents. Thse wrking part time reprted higher rates f several hardship factrs, including pverty, fd insecurity, and lack f health insurance. Cnstructin Husekeeping Cmmunity services Childcare 14% 10% 7% 6% Fcus grup participants reprted that it was difficult t find what they cnsidered gd wrk. Available jbs are usually part-time, temprary/seasnal, d nt pay well, and d nt ffer benefits. One participant cmmented, As an undcumented persn, yu take whatever jb yu can get. 6 Sme cmmn barriers t emplyment included lack f accessible childcare, lack f English language skills, and undcumented status. AS AN UNDOCUMENTED PERSON, YOU TAKE WHATEVER JOB YOU CAN GET Several wmen in the fcus grups explained that they dn t wrk because they wuld have t use the mney they culd make in a shift t pay whever was watching their kids in that same time. Other barriers included transprtatin, cmputer/internet access, experience and educatin requirements, unfamiliarity with the Seattle area, and fr sme, their age. Many participants stressed the imprtance f being recmmended by a family member r friend in rder t successfully btain a jb.

8 7 DISCRIMINATION AND SAFETY Discriminatin emerged as a cmmn theme in survey respnses and in the fcus grups. In a 2016 natinwide survey, ver half f Latins said they have regularly r ccasinally experienced discriminatin r have been treated unfairly because f their race r ethnicity. Yung and U.S.-brn Latins were mre likely t reprt experiencing discriminatin. Amng Latins age 18 t 29, 65% reprted experiencing discriminatin cmpared t 35% f Latins age 50 and ver. Amng Latins brn in the U.S., 62% reprted experiencing discriminatin cmpared t 41% f freign-brn Latins. 7 Amng ur survey respndents, many had experienced discriminatin persnally and/r described its impact n the larger Latin cmmunity. At the persnal level, 44% f respndents reprted experiencing discriminatin, harassment, r unfair treatment because they are Latin/a. Over half f these respndents said they had experienced discriminatin in the area f emplyment, and anther 30% said they had experienced it in husing. Other respndents reprted they had experienced discriminatin in schls, public Areas f Discriminatin spaces, and in the criminal justice system. One respndent stated that a bus driver tld her t g back t her cuntry, anther said that he had experienced racist and anti-immigrant cmments n Facebk, and a third said that stre wrkers ignre her and dn t sell prducts t her. 8 Respndents cited racism and steretypes as well as discriminatin based n immigratin status, ethnicity, and English fluency as majr issues affecting Latins in the regin. The recent presidential electin als had an impact n respndents; a few reprted that Dnald Trump and his plicies were tp issues fr the Latin cmmunity, and f thse wh experienced discriminatin, 60% said they had experienced mre since the 2016 presidential electin. Immediately after the electin, the Suthern Pverty Law Center cnducted a survey f 3 ut f 5 respndents wh experience discriminatin said it has increased since the 2016 presidential electin Emplyment Husing Schls Public Spaces Criminal Justice Stres Other ver 10,000 K-12 educatrs, and fund that the electin results had a prfundly negative impact n schls and students. 90% f educatrs reprted that schl climate had been negatively affected, 80% reprted heightened anxiety amng marginalized students, including immigrants, and 40% had heard dergatry language against students f clr and immigrants, amng thers. The increase in targeting and harassment was mst frequently reprted by educatrs in schls with majrity white students, primarily directed at immigrants, Muslims, girls, LGBT students, kids with disabilities and anyne wh was n the wrng side f the electin. Nearly 1,000 teachers bserved that children were shwing anxiety and fear abut deprtatin and family separatin. 9 Bus

9 8 Our survey respndents als expressed specific cncerns arund safety in their cmmunities. Fear f deprtatin was a cmmn theme, alng with family separatin, vilence, hate crimes, plice brutality, fear f the plice, intimidatin, insecurity in the streets and at night, and vilence based n race and immigratin status. Sme respndents expressed a sense f instability and uncertainty, perhaps reflecting a grwing sentiment f unease related t the current plitical climate and its impact n Latin cmmunities. In the fcus grups, participants expressed that they had experienced discriminatin fr speaking Spanish and/r nt speaking English, skin clr, race, and immigratin status. Participants shared examples frm their jbs, schls, stres, husing and at dctr s ffices. Mst examples invlved nn-latin aggressrs, but sme participants als shared examples f discriminatin and mistreatment by ther Latins. A few participants specifically said that they have witnessed Latins wh have legal status threatening t reprt undcumented Latins t immigratin as a frm f cercin r intimidatin. Many participants reprted that since the presidential electin they have nticed an increase in mistreatment and discriminatin f Latins in persn, n scial media and n televisin. One participant specifically blamed the president fr the rise in discriminatin, saying He gave them the right t. 10 Several participants referred t El Centr de la Raza as a safe place and a resurce fr immigrants, particularly in the mnths fllwing the presidential inauguratin. HOUSING Husing remains a majr cncern fr Latins in ur regin. In 2014, Latins had the secnd highest husing cst burden f any racial r ethnic grup in King Cunty, with 53% f Latin husehlds paying mre than 30% f their mnthly incme t rent. Many f these husehlds are severely cst-burdened, meaning that their husing csts equal mre than half f their mnthly incme. In King Cunty, 1 in 4 Latin husehlds pays mre than half f their mnthly incme t rent, cmpared t 17% f all husehlds and 15% f White husehlds. 11 Fr reference, median husehld incme amng Latins was $51,000 in 2014, cmpared t $76,000 fr the ttal ppulatin and $82,000 amng Whites. 12 There is a persistent need fr affrdable husing accessible t the Latin cmmunity. In ur survey, 73% f respndents were renters and 9% were hmewners. Many respndents were lng-time King Cunty residents; almst half said they had lived in here fr 10 years r mre. Over half f respndents lived in Seattle, and 38% lived in Suth King 1 in 5 respndents r a member f their family had t mve in the last tw years due t husing csts INSEGURIDAD EN LAS CALLES, EN ESPECIAL POR LAS NOCHES. Cunty. Freign-brn respndents and mnlingual Spanish speakers were mre likely t live in Suth King Cunty than in Seattle. Many respndents nted the lack f affrdable husing, high rent, unfair husing applicatin prcesses, inability t btain credit t buy a huse, and immigratin status as a barrier t husing as issues affecting the Latin cmmunity. Rughly 1 in 5 respndents said that they r a member f their family had t mve in the last tw years due t rising husing csts. Sme fcus grup participants reprted that they live in husing that is t small fr their family in rder t keep rent csts dwn. Others reprted they save mney n rent by living in the cnditins we live in, 13 ffering examples f inadequate cleanliness, prly maintained buildings, and pests.

10 Three f the five fcus grups were held with residents f El Centr de la Raza s lw-incme husing cmplexes Plaza Rbert Maestas and El Pati Apartments. These participants fund Beacn Hill a favrable place t live due t affrdability, access t public transprtatin, prximity t stres and businesses, and prximity t dwntwn. They als expressed that having El Centr de la Raza clse by was a benefit f living in the area, primarily fr the early childhd educatin services and the sense f cmmunity at the rganizatin. All but tw husehlds had at least ne child and mst husehlds (76%) had tw r mre children. 9 Pictured: El Centr de la Raza s new mixed-use develpment Plaza Rbert Maestas, with 112 units f affrdable husing Fcus grup participants als shared their experiences and thughts arund hmewnership. When asked abut future gals t becme hmewners, many participants laughed. They insisted it was simply a dream, t difficult t achieve. They felt they culd nt save enugh fr a dwn payment and culd nt affrd the mrtgage and utility bills. One cuple used t wn their hme, but lst the huse after a wrk injury affected their finances. They felt it wuld be difficult t regain what they had lst. Anther THE PLACE THAT EL CENTRO PROVIDES IS A GOOD PLACE FOR OUR KIDS participant shared that their family decided t buy an RV when they had t leave their apartment, but struggled t find affrdable parking. A few participants said they had n desire t becme hmewners; they felt El Centr de la Raza prvided mre than sufficient husing fr them and their families. One participant stated, The place that El Centr prvides is a gd place fr ur kids. 14 Participants held generally negative views n public husing (althugh they did nt identify El Centr de la Raza s husing as public husing ). They felt there were t many requirements, an infinite wait t get in, cmplicated frms, and a very shrt time frame t submit an applicatin. Several peple expressed frustratin and hpelessness abut the prcess. One said, I feel like it is ppressive it is very difficult at the emtinal level. 15 Anther participant felt that the public husing system des nt help peple succeed in the lng run. She explained, As far as state assistance r gvernment help, it s gd t have that help when yu need it. But in the lng term, it keeps yu dwn because if yu even make a dllar mre than the limit, the help is gne.

11 10 EDUCATION Educatinal attainment is a strng predictr f ecnmic stability. Amng ur survey respndents, thse wh had cmpleted sme pst-secndary studies r had a cllege degree were mre likely t make ver $40,000 per year than thse wh had a high schl degree r less. Hwever, there are significant and persistent academic achievement gaps between Latin students and their White peers. Latin students cnsistently scre lwer n standardized furth-grade and tenth-grade assessments than White students, 16 and these gaps ften lead t lwer rates f n-time high schl graduatin. Latin students had the secnd lwest graduatin rate f any ethnic grup in King Cunty in 2015, with just 63% f Latin students graduating n time cmpared t 80% f all students and 86% f White students. 17 The graduatin rate was 66% fr lw-incme students, 54% fr students wh speak limited English, and just 49% fr Title I migrant students. 18 Fr many Latin children, these gaps exist even befre kindergarten, and widen as students prgress thrugh the educatin system. In 2015, just 33% f Latin children were cnsidered ready fr kindergarten, cmpared t 58% f their White peers. 19 High quality early childhd educatin can make the difference fr a child t be prepared t enter kindergarten, but it is ften inaccessible fr lw-incme families. King Cunty has sme f the mst expensive childcare in Washingtn State, ttaling abut $33,000 per year fr an infant and tddler 20 rughly 75% r mre f what mst f ur survey respndent husehlds made last year. Of the survey respndents wh needed pre-k childcare and befre/after-schl prgrams, abut 1 in 4 said they culd nt access thse services, and anther 1 in 4 said that the services were difficult t get. Respndents indicated that cst was the mst significant barrier t childcare access, fllwed by lcatin. In Suth King Cunty, respndents were mre likely t list lcatin as the primary barrier. In Seattle, cst was the primary barrier. This suggests that Suth King Cunty may nt have enugh childcare prgrams clse t parent r guardian wrkplaces/hmes, while 1 in 4 respndents needing childcare r after schl prgrams culd nt access thse services Seattle prgrams may be available but are prhibitively expensive. Additinal barriers t after schl prgrams included lack f infrmatin, n spaces available, lack f in-schl prgrams, and lack f transprtatin r time. In additin t affrdable early childhd educatin and after schl prgrams, survey respndents identified the fllwing as the greatest educatinal needs in the Latin cmmunity: access t general and technical educatin, affrdable educatin pprtunities fr nn-citizens and lder adults, LGBTQ student rights, and Spanish-speaking mentrs fr graduating students (likely referring t high schl r cllege). Many respndents felt that a lack f English language skills is a majr barrier t pursuing educatin and emplyment, and they wuld like t see mre affrdable English as a Secnd Language classes in the cmmunity as well. Many fcus grup participants expressed that early childhd educatin and after schl prgrams are beneficial fr children as well as parents/guardians. Participants valued the bilingual prgramming prvided at El Centr de la Raza, and several said they nticed imprvements in their children s learning and behavir after they started attending Jsé Martí Child Develpment Center. Sme parents als expressed that enrlling their children in after-schl prgrams allwed them t wrk mre hurs t increase earnings, take curses (such as ESL classes), r have mre time t care fr yunger children.

12 11 HEALTHCARE Befre the implementatin f the Affrdable Care Act, Latins had the highest uninsured rate f any racial r ethnic grup in King Cunty (42% in 2013). As f 2016, 1 in 4 Latins in King Cunty is still withut health insurance, the secnd highest uninsured rate after American Indian/Alaska Natives (26%). 21 Lack f insurance can severely impact bth the health and financial slvency f husehlds The uninsured ften face unaffrdable medical bills when they d seek care which can quickly translate int medical debt since mst f the uninsured have lw r mderate incmes and have little, if any, savings. Thse withut insurance are ften charged higher rates fr medical care, and end up using up savings, having difficulty paying fr necessities, brrwing mney, r having medical bills sent t cllectin due t their financial situatin. 22 Health insurance and healthcare services are inaccessible fr many Latins in ur regin primarily due t high cst. Only 55% f ur survey respndents had health insurance, half f whm had emplyer-spnsred cverage (either their wn r frm a parent, partner, r schl), and 29% f whm had Medicare r Medicaid. Almst half (45%) f survey respndents did nt have health insurance. Of the survey respndents withut insurance, 58% said that cst was the primary barrier. Other reasns respndents reprted fr nt having insurance include nt knwing hw t get cverage (20%), ineligibility due t jb lss (15%), and nt knwing if they were eligible r dubts abut immigratin status eligibility (6%). This issue affected freign-brn respndents much mre than U.S.-brn respndents. Just ne f the twenty-three U.S.-brn respndents did nt have health insurance, while half f freign-brn respndents did nt have health insurance. Part-time wrkers were als mre likely than full-time wrkers t be uninsured. When asked where they usually receive medical care, the majrity f respndents reprted that they use cmmunity clinics and health care centers. Hwever, 27% f respndents withut insurance did nt have a usual place t g r wuld g t a hspital emergency rm r urgent care center. These respndents are likely nt receiving preventative care r general wellness checkups. Mst respndents 14% 4% Dn't have a usual place t g Usual Place fr Medical Care (n=182) With Insurance 70% 60% Cmmunity clinic r health center (72%) said they knew where t get an HIV test, but nly 1 in 4 had been tested in the past six mnths. 23 Respndents wh felt healthcare was a majr cncern in the Latin cmmunity reprted that, in additin t inaccessible health insurance and expensive healthcare, there is a general lack f services, prgrams, resurces, and activities fr the Latin cmmunity, as well as a lack f infrmatin abut hw t access them. Fcus grup participants shared similar challenges. Many participants indicated that health insurance and medical services are nt affrdable, and they simply chse nt t g t the dctr. Thse wh d seek medical care usually g t the Cuntry Dctr Cmmunity Clinic, 45 th Street Clinic, r the Seattle-King Cunty Public Health clinics where services are billed n a sliding fee scale based n incme. Mst were referred t these places by a friend, cwrker, family member, r El Centr de la Raza. 27% 0% Dctr's ffice Withut Insurance 13% 4% 4% 3% Hspital Alternative care emergency practice r ther rm r urgent care center

13 12 FINANCIAL STABILITY Since 2011, median husehld incme in King Cunty has been increasing, but Latin husehlds cntinue t bring in less than twthirds f what White families d. In 2015, median husehld incme amng Latins in King Cunty was $55,000, cmpared t $82,000 fr the ttal ppulatin and $88,000 amng Whites. 24 This puts Latin families at higher risk f financial instability. Latins are mre likely t live in Latin White Ttal Pp pverty than Whites. In King Cunty, 22% f Latins live belw the Federal Pverty Line (FPL) cmpared t 8% f Whites. 25 This disparity is even mre striking amng yung children; 37% f Latin children under 5 live belw FPL cmpared f 12% f White children. 26 There are als differences in pverty rates amng Latins based n husehld cmpsitin and gender. Latin families headed by married cuples have the lwest pverty rates (7%), cmpared t 36% f husehlds headed by single Latina wmen and 16% f husehlds headed by single Latin men. 27 In rder t gather data n financial stability in the Latin cmmunity, El Centr de la Raza s survey included questins abut husehld incme and hw frequently respndents had mney left ver after paying bills. Nearly 3 in 4 survey respndents were lw-incme (belw 200% f FPL). Just 1 in 10 respndents ften had mney left ver after paying mnthly bills, with 33% respnding smetimes and 35% respnding ccasinally. 1 in 5 respndents never had mney left ver after paying mnthly bills. Analyzing these results by husehld cmpsitin, we fund that husehlds with children experienced higher rates f financial hardship. Husehlds headed by single adults with multiple children were the mst likely t say that they ccasinally r never had mney left ver 1 in 5 respndents never had mney left ver after paying mnthly bills $100,000 $80,000 $60,000 $40,000 $20,000 3 in 4 respndents were lw-incme after paying mnthly bills. When analyzing by cuntry f birth, we fund that freign-brn respndents (median husehld incme $20,000- $30,000) were mre likely than U.S.-brn respndents (median husehld incme $30,000-$40,000) t reprt ccasinally r never having mney left ver after paying mnthly bills. In the fcus grups, many participants described financial security as earning stable incme frm emplyment and having savings. Participants emphasized the imprtance f the ability t save, nt just meet yur basic needs. 28 Hwever, many reprted that saving mney is very difficult. When asked what might increase their ability t save, mst respndents agreed that the high cst f husing is a majr barrier. One participant suggested mre husing subsidies r rent cntrl as ptential slutins. Other ways participants discussed t increase their savings included wrking mre hurs r multiple jbs, but many felt that they wuld be neglecting their children if they did s. One participant reflected, I wuld never sacrifice my children t have mre mney my children s future depends n that. What am I ging t d with all that mney if my children g dwn the wrng path? 29 $- King Cunty Median Husehld Incme

14 13 TRANSPORTATION In 2015, the majrity f Latins in King Cunty drve alne t wrk (66%), fllwed by lwer rates f carpling (13%) and public transprtatin (13%). Abut 10% did nt have access t a car. 30 Amng ur survey respndent, mst (80%) wned a car, and 75% f respndents reprted needing t use public transit in the last year. Cmparing these respnses by place f residence, Suth King Cunty residents were mre likely than Seattle residents t wn a car, and less likely t say they needed public transit. Of thse wh needed public transit, 1 in 4 had difficulties accessing transit r culd nt access it at all, citing lcatin (50%) and cst (38%) as primary barriers t access. Pictured: The Beacn Hill Link Light Rail Statin and Metr bus stp adjacent t El Centr de la Raza Amng fcus grup participants, transprtatin was an imprtant factr when deciding where t live. In cntrast t survey respndents, nly a few fcus grup participants wned vehicles. Many rely primarily n Metr buses and the Link light rail. Sme participants shared that they avid using cars because f traffic, parking availability and cst, and nt wanting t drive in bad weather. Many participants had psitive attitudes tward public transit, indicating that there are cnvenient stps near wrk and stres, sufficient frequency f service, and easily transferrable fare. One participant reprted that she likes teaching her children hw t get arund withut using a car. Hwever, participants als identified sme drawbacks t using public transit. Transfers nly last fr tw hurs, which is nt always enugh time t cmplete errands. It can als be difficult t run errands with multiple children using the bus, especially when carrying grceries. Sme participants have multiple jb sites r need t drp ff multiple children at different schls, s the bus is nt a viable ptin. Others said they have been harassed n public transit. All fcus grup participants knew abut the ORCA card, and mst knew abut the ORCA LIFT prgram (a reduced fare prgram fr incme-eligible adults), althugh nt all were enrlled. We fund that sme participants were cnfused abut hw the ORCA card wrked, indicating that they did nt knw hw t use it, check their balance, r relad funds. This is smething fr service prviders t be aware f, especially thse wh ffer ORCA LIFT prgram enrllment. There is a need fr mre educatin and training in this area.

15 14 NUTRITION/FOOD ACCESS One f the mst basic f needs is having enugh fd t eat. Husehlds that d nt have access t enugh fd fr active healthy lives fr all husehld members at all times during the year are cnsidered fd insecure. 31 Incme is a very strng predictr f fd insecurity. Accrding t a 2013 King Cunty survey, 38% f adults with husehld incmes belw $35,000 experienced fd hardship cmpared t just 2% f thse with incmes f $50,000 r higher. 32 Suth King Cunty residents are als at higher risk, with 18% reprting fd hardship cmpared t 12% f Seattle residents. 33 Latins are at particularly high risk f fd insecurity, with 41% f Latin adults experiencing fd hardship in King Cunty in 2013, cmpared t 13% f all adults and 10% f White adults. As shwn in the chart t the right, Latins cnsistently have the highest rates f fd insecurity cmpared t ther racial and ethnic grups. In additin, Latins have cmparatively lw rates f enrllment in gvernment nutritin assistance prgrams. Only 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Fd Hardship in King Cunty: Asian Black Latin White half f eligible Latin husehlds are enrlled in the Supplemental Nutritin Assistance Prgram (SNAP). 34 Of thse wh participated in El Centr de la Raza s survey, 38% f respndents reprted that they had run ut f fd and culdn t affrd t buy mre at sme pint in the last year. Of thse, 19% reprted that this happened almst every mnth, and an additinal 43% said it happened sme mnths but nt every mnth. This was mst cmmn amng very lw-incme husehlds 63% f respndents making less than $10,000 per year experienced fd insecurity cmpared t nly 14% f thse making $50,000 r mre per year. Part-time wrkers were als mre likely t be in a fd insecure husehld than full time wrkers. 2 in 5 respndents ran ut f fd and culdn t buy mre in the last year When asked what they wuld d if they ran ut f fd, many fcus grup participants knew abut lcal fd banks at El Centr de la Raza and St. Mary s Church and had received fd assistance there in the past. Others said they wuld ask relatives, friends, r neighbrs fr help. Sme participants had brrwed mney frm friends, and ne participant said she tk ut a payday lan frm Mney Tree. Sme participants expressed cncern abut accessing fd banks if they already receive public assistance (e.g. WIC), r if they are a green card hlder. Several were afraid that fd bank staff wuld use their ID t check their benefits status and turn them away, r that seeking fd assistance culd jepardize their residency status. These miscnceptins arund eligibility may be preventing Latins frm accessing the fd resurces they need.

16 15 SERVICE UTILIZATION We cmpiled a list f services ffered at El Centr de la Raza and at ur Steering Cmmittee partner rganizatins, and asked survey respndents abut their service utilizatin last year, and anticipated need fr services in the cming year. The chart is rganized in rder f the services respndents expected they wuld need in the cming year. Services Utilized Last Year vs. Services Expected t Need in the Cming Year Last Year Cming Year ESL instructin Regular health check-ups Legal services Tax preparatin assistance Public transprtatin Cultural events Knw Yur Rights training Financial cunseling Rental assistance Befre and after schl prgrams Emplyment assistance/training Hmebuyer cunseling Emergency medical services Business develpment training Emergency fd/fd bank Day care/child care children 5 and under Mental health services/cunseling HIV/STI testing Technlgy training Public husing (Sectin 8 vuchers) Yuth case management Hme visiting parental educatin Emergency husing/shelter Senir wellness activities Tbacc/marijuana cessatin services Other Freclsure preventin cunseling

17 The mst cmmnly utilized services in the past year were public transprtatin, English as a Secnd Language (ESL) classes, cultural events, health check-ups, tax prep, emergency fd/fd bank, legal services, HIV/STI testing, and emergency medical services. 35 This tells us these services were needed and accessible t ur survey ppulatin. There were sme differences in service usage between grups within the survey ppulatin. Seattle residents used public transprtatin and cultural events at higher rates than Suth King Cunty residents (37% vs 24%), and Suth King Cunty residents used ESL instructin and regular health checkups at higher rates than Seattle respndents (ESL: 37% vs 22%, health checkups: 31% vs 21%). Female respndents reprted using regular health check-ups and tax prep assistance at higher rates than male respndents in the last year (health checkups: 33% vs 15%, tax prep: 28% vs 14%). The services that the highest number f peple expected they wuld need next year were ESL classes, health checkups, legal services, tax preparatin assistance, public transprtatin, cultural events, Knw Yur Rights training, and financial cunseling. It is wrth nting that this survey was administered frm January 22 nd, 2017 thrugh March 8 th, 2017, immediately fllwing the presidential inauguratin and during a perid f the issuance f several Executive Orders that directly threatened the safety f immigrants. This may have had an effect n the number f peple wh expected they wuld need legal services and Knw Yur Rights trainings in the cming year. We nticed that althugh the mst cmmn stress factrs fr respndents (discussed n page 3 f this reprt) were arund finances and emplyment, financial cunseling and emplyment assistance were nt amng the tp 10 mst utilized services. There are several pssible reasns fr this; perhaps these services are nt accessible t participants, nt seen as useful, r participants are nt aware that they are available. This is an area fr further study. Fcus grup participants reprted that they were highly satisfied with services they received at El Centr de la Raza. They als reprted that if the service they needed was nt available n-site, El Centr de la Raza staff wuld cnnect them with utside service prviders wh culd meet their need. Hwever, participants als felt that nt having a Scial Security number limited their access t services in general. This suggests participants may nt be taking advantage f available services due t incrrect assumptins abut eligibility. Service prviders shuld be aware f this, and take steps t find ut whether public perceptin f eligibility requirements fr their prgrams is crrect. Outside f these tw studies, El Centr de la Raza als cllects feedback frm participants f all departments n an annual basis n hw well they were satisfied with the service they received. The survey asks if participants were helped in a timely manner, treated with respect, received the infrmatin r service that they needed, infrmed abut ther services the agency ffers, felt welcmed in the building, were satisfied with the cleanliness f the building, and if they wuld recmmend the rganizatin t thers. In 2017, we cllected nearly 500 survey respnses, with 96% psitive respnses and 4% negative respnses. In general, participants wanted t knw mre abut ther services ffered at the rganizatin, mre infrmatin prvided nline, better parking (especially amng parents f children in the child develpment center), and expanded services in ther areas f the regin (Suth King Cunty was identified as a specific area t expand services). 16

18 17 KEY FINDINGS The gal f El Centr de la Raza s Cmmunity Needs Assessment 2017 was t summarize the current needs f Latins in Seattle and Suth King Cunty. Our research revealed sme imprtant trends fr service prviders, funders, and plicymakers t cnsider in the cming years. We fund that the tp three mst pressing needs amng ur survey and fcus grup participants are gd jbs, affrdable husing, and safety frm interpersnal and institutinal discriminatin n the basis f race, language, and immigratin status. Emplyment, discriminatin, husing, and immigratin were the tp fur cmmunity cncerns, with discriminatin mst frequently mentined as the mst pressing issue. The mst cmmn surces f stress in peples lives were mstly related t finances: mney, the ecnmy, husing csts, wrk, and jb stability. In the area f emplyment, there is a need nt just fr jb pprtunities, but fr gd jbs with living wages, benefits, adequate hurs, and year-rund stability. Despite Seattle s new labr standards, many peple are still underpaid, underemplyed, and uninsured. English language skills were ften cited as a barrier t btaining gd wrk, and it is wrth nting that ESL instructin was the mst cited service that survey respndents expected they wuld need in the cming year. Finding affrdable childcare is anther cmmn barrier t btaining emplyment. Service prviders and funders might cnsider including a strategic fcus n these barriers in their emplyment-related prgramming. The rising cst f husing cntinues t ver-burden Latin families. Many have had t mve due t rent increases, and live in hmes t small fr their families with inadequate living cnditins. Hmewnership is seen as simply a dream, unattainable. Service prviders and funders can make an impact in this area by investing in creating and maintaining affrdable husing, and cnnecting peple t hmewnership supprts such as financial cunseling, hmebuyer educatin, and dwn payment assistance. Thse wh live in affrdable husing fr lw-incme families emphasize the imprtance f access t transit, stres and businesses, and childcare. There is a need fr plicymakers t supprt affrdable husing develpment in clse prximity t these supprts. Many Latins cntinue t suffer discriminatin n the basis f race, language, and immigratin status, and mst say it has increased since the 2016 presidential electin. Peple experience discriminatin btaining emplyment, at their place f wrk, seeking husing, at schl, in public spaces, and in the criminal justice system including with law enfrcement. Many feel unsafe and fearful, especially with regard t deprtatin and vilence against immigrants. In the shrt-term, service prviders, funders, and plicymakers must prtect thse whse safety and livelihds are being threatened and defend the rights f all peple including nn-citizens. In the lng-term, we need t wrk acrss sectrs t dismantle discriminatry systems, build cmmunity pwer, and increase representatin f cmmunities f clr, lw-incme cmmunities, and immigrant cmmunities in the public sphere. These were the three mst pressing issues that emerged frm El Centr de la Raza s Cmmunity Needs Assessment 2017: emplyment, husing, and discriminatin. As a vice and a hub f the Latin cmmunity in Seattle and King Cunty, El Centr de la Raza is cmmitted t respnding t these needs with culturally and linguistically cmpetent prgrams and services as well as advcacy at the lcal and state level.

19 18 ENDNOTES 1 American Cmmunity Survey 1-year estimates, American Cmmunity Survey 1-year estimates, Ecnmic Plicy Institute: 4 University f Washingtn: 5 Washingtn State Cmmissin n Hispanic Affairs, Assessment Reprt Participant 5, fcus grup 3 7 Pew Research Center: 8 Original Spanish text f respnses: (1) En ls centr[s] cmerciales me ignran y n me venden el prduct[] (2) En el autbús y en la para[d]a. La cnductr me dij que fuera a mi país (3) He experimentad cmentaris racistas y anti-inmigrante en Facebk 9 Suthern Pverty Law Center: 10 Participant 7, fcus grup 1 11 Cmmunities Cunt husing data: 12 American Cmmunity Survey 1-year estimates, Participant 2, fcus grup 4 14 Participant 3, fcus grup 5 15 Participant 2, fcus grup 3 16 Seattle University: 17 Best Starts fr Kids Implementatin Plan: 18 Office f the Superintendent f Public Instructin: 19 King Cunty Department f Cmmunity and Human Services: King Cunty APDE: 22 Kaiser Family Fundatin: 23 When analyzing these questins based n sexual rientatin, we fund that all 26 LGBTQ respndents knew where t get an HIV test cmpared t 66% f straight respndents. Hwever, nly 73% f LGBTQ respndents had been tested in the past six mnths. It is likely that mst LGBTQ respndents were Entre Hermans clients, and staff later infrmed us that arund 40% f Entre Hermans clients knw they are HIV psitive and therefre d nt require HIV testing. 24 American Cmmunity Survey 1-year estimates, American Cmmunity Survey 5-year estimates, American Cmmunity Survey 5-year estimates, American Cmmunity Survey 1-year estimates, Participant 7, fcus grup 1 29 Participant 1, fcus grup 2 30 American Cmmunity Survey 1-year estimates, USDA Ecnmic Research Service: 32 A King Cunty telephne survey asked adults hw ften in the past 12 mnths (never, smetimes, r ften) their fd didn t last and they didn t have mney t buy mre. Answers f smetimes r ften indicate fd hardship. Cmmunities Cunt fd insecurity data: 33 Cmmunities Cunt: 34 United Way f King Cunty: 35 The prevalence f the mst frequently cited services may have been skewed by the nature f the rganizatins cnducting the surveys and the events where the surveys were cllected. Fr example, 41% f surveys were cllected at El Centr de la Raza tax preparatin sessins and 26% were cllected at El Centr Legal Clinics. This likely influenced the high frequency f utilizatin f thse services. Similarly, El Centr ffers ESL, cultural events, and a fd bank, and Entre Hermans (where 10% f the surveys were cllected) ffers HIV/STI testing.

20 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS El Centr de la Raza wuld like t thank the individuals and rganizatins that made this reprt pssible: Steering Cmmittee Marcs Martinez, Casa Latina Estela Ortega, El Centr de la Raza Luis Fernand Ramirez, Entre Hermans Milvia Pachec, Mvimient Afrlatin Seattle Artur Martinez Guijsa, Neighbrhd Huse Lupita Trrez, Para Ls Niñs Patricia Lally, Seattle Office fr Civil Rights Theresa Fujiwara, United Way f King Cunty Dr. India Ornelas, University f Washingtn Latin Center fr Health Shannn Harper, University f Washingtn West Cast Pverty Center Research Team Data Cllectrs Sydney Allen Nelia Flres Katherine Garcia-Rsales Lauren Kastanas Dr. Linda K Jsé Camach Mercedes Delgad Ana Lilia Garcia Alexia Klatt Rci Martinez Gricelda Mntes This prject was funded by the Latin Center fr Health and the Fred Hutchinsn Cancer Research Center, and supprted in-kind by the Institute f Translatinal Health Services and Seattle Infrmatin Technlgy.